Systems and methods for using negative pressure wound therapy to manage open abdominal wounds

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to the treatment of wounds using negative pressure. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide for a foam pad, which may be suitable for use in abdominal wound sites, and which may be sized in a dimensionally-independent manner. Additional embodiments provide for a wound contact layer, as well as a system for the treatment of abdominal wounds.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A porous pad for the treatment of wounds using negative pressure, wherein the porous pad comprises:
 a porous material configured to channel wound exudate from a wound site and negative pressure to the wound site; 
 a generally planar shape with a thickness less than a width and a length, wherein the length is greater than the width and the generally planar shape has a major axis extending along the length and a minor axis extending along the width, the major and minor axes both bisecting the porous pad; 
 a first plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the porous pad, the first plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations comprising a first arcuate cut or perforation arranged in series with a second arcuate cut or perforation, a first bridge portion disposed on the minor axis and between the first arcuate cut or perforation and the second arcuate cut or perforation, the first arcuate cut or perforation, the first bridge portion, and the second arcuate cut or perforation defining a first continuous arcuate shape; 
 a second plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the porous pad, the second plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations disposed between the first continuous arcuate shape and the major axis, the second plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations comprising a third arcuate cut or perforation arranged in series with a fourth arcuate cut or perforation, a second bridge portion disposed on the minor axis and between the third arcuate cut or perforation and the fourth arcuate cut or perforation, the third arcuate cut or perforation, the second bridge portion, and the fourth arcuate cut or perforation defining a second continuous arcuate shape, wherein the third arcuate cut or perforation extends continuously from the second bridge portion to a third bridge portion disposed on the major axis, and the fourth arcuate cut or perforation extends continuously from the second bridge portion to a fourth bridge portion disposed on the major axis; and 
 a corresponding third arcuate cut or perforation disposed symmetrically across the major axis of the porous pad from the third arcuate cut or perforation, a corresponding fourth arcuate cut or perforation disposed symmetrically across the major axis of the porous pad from the fourth arcuate cut or perforation, and a fifth bridge portion disposed on the minor axis and between the corresponding third arcuate cut or perforation and the corresponding fourth arcuate cut or perforation, wherein the corresponding third arcuate cut or perforation extends continuously from the fifth bridge portion disposed on the minor axis to the third bridge portion disposed on the major axis, and the corresponding fourth arcuate cut or perforation extends continuously from the fifth bridge portion disposed on the minor axis to the fourth bridge portion disposed on the major axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The porous pad of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the porous pad, the third plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations being substantially parallel to the first plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations to define a third continuous arcuate shape, wherein the third plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations is interposed between the first plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations and an edge of the generally planar shape. 
 
     
     
       3. The porous pad of  claim 2 , wherein the third continuous arcuate shape comprises a sixth bridge portion, wherein the sixth bridge portion is disposed on the minor axis. 
     
     
       4. The porous pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a corresponding first continuous arcuate shape symmetrically disposed across the major axis of the porous pad from the first continuous arcuate shape. 
     
     
       5. The porous pad of  claim 4 , wherein the minor axis substantially bisects the first continuous arcuate shape and the corresponding first continuous arcuate shape. 
     
     
       6. The porous pad of  claim 1 , wherein the porous pad comprises an open-celled, reticulated foam. 
     
     
       7. The porous pad of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper arcuate cut, the third arcuate cut or perforation disposed between the minor axis and the upper arcuate cut. 
     
     
       8. The porous pad of  claim 7 , wherein the upper arcuate cut is bisected by the major axis. 
     
     
       9. The porous pad of  claim 7 , further comprising a lower arcuate cut disposed symmetrically across the minor axis of the porous pad from the upper arcuate cut. 
     
     
       10. The porous pad of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first bridge portion, the second bridge portion, and the fifth bridge portion is bisected by the minor axis. 
     
     
       11. A porous pad for the treatment of wounds using negative pressure, wherein the porous pad comprises:
 a porous material configured to channel wound exudate from a wound site and negative pressure to the wound site; 
 a generally planar shape with a thickness less than a width and a length, wherein the length is greater than the width and the generally planar shape has a major axis extending along the length and a minor axis extending along the width, the major and minor axes both bisecting the porous pad; 
 a first arcuate cut extending continuously from a first bridge portion disposed on the minor axis to a second bridge portion disposed on the major axis; 
 a second arcuate cut extending continuously from the second bridge portion to a third bridge portion disposed on the minor axis, the second arcuate cut disposed symmetrically across the major axis from the first arcuate cut; 
 a third arcuate cut extending continuously from the third bridge portion to a fourth bridge portion disposed on the major axis; and 
 a fourth arcuate cut extending continuously from the fourth bridge portion to the first bridge portion, the fourth arcuate cut disposed symmetrically across the major axis from the third arcuate cut, wherein a continuous arcuate shape is defined by the first bridge portion, the first arcuate cut, the second bridge portion, the second arcuate cut, the third bridge portion, the third arcuate cut, the fourth bridge portion, and the fourth arcuate cut. 
 
     
     
       12. The porous pad of  claim 11 , further comprising an upper arcuate cut, the first arcuate cut or perforation disposed between the minor axis and the upper arcuate cut. 
     
     
       13. The porous pad of  claim 12 , further comprising a lower arcuate cut disposed symmetrically across the minor axis of the porous pad from the upper arcuate cut. 
     
     
       14. The porous pad of  claim 11 , wherein the continuous arcuate shape is elliptical.